LOS ANGELES -- Perhaps the prospects of would-be Asian political unity can best be described as a "pipe dream." But even that description might be too optimistic, unless you imagine a water pipe filled with wildly psychedelic substances that are imbibed in huge amounts!
It's true, the sober reality of erstwhile political integration in Asia tends to bring everyone involved down to earth very rapidly. Just look at what is happening even in Europe. There, the much-touted European Union is something of a sudden mess, Britain and France are at each other's throats yet again, and these days Brussels, headquarters of the EU, is sprouting more rancor than reason.
Europe is self-destructive enough on its own, but now it has the United States to thank for its further disarray. To a minor measure of astonishment, the Bush administration has just proposed an impressive array of significant compromises to lower America's infamous iron wall of agricultural subsidies. The goal -- says chief U.S. Trade Representative Bob Portman -- is to breathe new life into the so-called Doha round of trade talks. Hong Kong is to host the next session on Dec. 13-18.